This blog on the MyKitchen website provides a beautiful overview of the Rooibos story – from how it became part of the tea-drinking culture in the Cederberg region during the 19th century to finding ways to germinate Rooibos seeds in the 1930s. Rooibos is produced from the plant Aspalathus linearis, a shrub unique to the Cederberg Mountains around…
Prof Jonny Peter, Head of the Allergy and Immunology Unit at the University of Cape Town’s Lung Institute, told CapeTalk’s #WeekendBreakfast host Africa Melane about the studies they are conducting to determine the impact of Rooibos on allergic inflammation. Laboratory studies have shown Rooibos has a positive effect on allergy-prone cells. They hope to turn…
Winter is often characterised by unsettled weather, a lack of sunshine, colds and flu, and reduced physical activity. Any combination of these factors can upset the body’s equilibrium. This can lead to indigestion, joint pain, dehydration, a sluggish metabolism, high blood pressure, depression, and lingering colds and flu. This is where a cup of hot…
Why a bit of alcohol – including a Rooibos cocktail – is actually good for you Did you know that moderate alcohol intake can be beneficial to your health? Firstly, moderate drinking can help to reduce your risk of Type-2 diabetes and, secondly, it can help you to live longer. Using Rooibos in cocktails adds…
In May this year, the world’s biggest coffee shop chain, Starbucks, introduced two Rooibos Lattes as part of its spring menu in the UK. The “luxurious” Rooibos Lattes – Rooibos Tea Latte and Red Apple Rooibos Tea Latte – were launched at 950 stores across the UK, which has one of the biggest tea-drinking markets…
Who would have thought that purses made from used Rooibos tea bags would become a fashion accessory in Paris? Gracious Dube (33), originally from Zimbabwe and now living in Cape Town, said she stumbled upon the idea while drinking a cup of Rooibos. To make the purses, she starts off by drying and ironing about…
Next to water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world with around 2 billion people sipping on the brew per day. Rooibos is becoming one of the fastest-growing beverages in the drinks market globally, says Ernest du Toit from the SA Rooibos Council. If both export and local volumes were sold and…
In South Africa, school children are often exposed to the risk of sunburn as a result of schools lacking sun protection policies. Local research has shown that sunburn in children significantly increases the risk of developing skin cancer and melanomas – the deadliest form of skin cancer – later in life. Research has also shown…
AMW Boerdery on the farm Jakkalsvlei southwest of Clanwilliam produces up to 470 kg/ha of Rooibos a year. Wimpie Smit, co-owner of the farm, credits the results to sound production management which includes soil preparation, crop rotation and rigorous weed management, and of course favourable climatic conditions. According to Smit, the way in which the…
Did you know that the early Dutch settlers started drinking Rooibos in the late 17th century as an alternative to the more expensive black tea? Did you know that Rooibos is low in tannins, caffeine-free and rich in antioxidants? Read this article to find out more about Rooibos.
